Confined Space Attendant Duties & Responsibilities
- Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure.
- Understand the operation of, and properly use, the following equipment:
- Testing and monitoring equipment
- Ventilating equipment
- Communications equipment
- Lighting equipment.
- Personal protective equipment
- Barriers and shields
- Equipment such as ladders needed for safe ingress and egress
- Rescue and emergency equipment
- Be aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized Entrants.
- Continuously maintain an accurate count of authorized Entrants in the permit space and accurately identify who is in the permit space.
- Remain outside the permit space during entry operation until relieved by another Attendant or all Entrants have exited the space and the entrance has been secured.
- Communicate with authorized Entrants as necessary to monitor Entrant status and to alert Entrants of the need to evacuate the space.
- Monitor activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe for Entrants to remain in the space and order the authorized Entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately under any of the following conditions.
- Detection of a prohibited condition;
- Detection of behavioral effects of hazard exposure in an authorized Entrant;
- Detection of a situation outside the space that could endanger the authorized Entrants; or
- If the Attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all of his/her required duties.
- Summon rescue and other emergency services as soon as the Attendant determines the authorized Entrants may need assistance to escape from permit space hazards.
- Take the following actions when unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit space while entry is underway:
- Warn the unauthorized persons that they must stay away from the permit space.
- Advise the unauthorized persons that they must exit immediately if they have entered the permit space; and
- Inform the authorized Entrants and the Entry Supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered the permit space;
- Perform non-entry rescue as specified by the plan.
- Perform no duties that might interfere with the Attendant’s primary duty to monitor and protect the authorized Entrants.
- Be visibly distinguishable from other workers in the area. This can be by the use of uniquely colored or labeled vests, jackets, hard hats, or other methods discernable to workers in the area.